History of Tsunami in Timeline

A tsunami is a series of powerful waves caused by large-scale displacement of water, most commonly in oceans or large lakes. Unlike wind-driven waves or tides, tsunamis originate from significant events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or underwater explosions. These events rapidly displace a substantial volume of water, creating waves that can travel vast distances with immense force. Their impact can be devastating upon reaching coastal areas.

1908: 1908 Messina Earthquake and Tsunami

In 1908, the Messina earthquake and tsunami claimed more than 123,000 lives in Sicily and Calabria, making it among the deadliest natural disasters in modern Europe.

1917: Halifax Explosion Tsunami

In 1917, the accidental Halifax Explosion triggered an 18-metre high tsunami in the harbour at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

1929: Grand Banks Tsunami

In 1929, the Grand Banks tsunami came from an earthquake which destabilised sediments, causing them to flow into the ocean and generate a tsunami.

1933: 1933 Sanriku Event

In 1933, the Sanriku event occurred, with movement on normal (extensional) faults which can also cause displacement of the seabed, but only the largest of such events (typically related to flexure in the outer trench swell) cause enough displacement to give rise to a significant tsunami.

1939: World War II Explosives Consideration

As early as World War II (1939-1945), consideration of the use of conventional explosives to induce tsunamis as a tectonic weapon was explored.

1945: World War II Explosives Consideration

As early as World War II (1939-1945), consideration of the use of conventional explosives to induce tsunamis as a tectonic weapon was explored.

April 1, 1946: Aleutian Islands Earthquake and Tsunami

On April 1, 1946, the 8.6 Mw Aleutian Islands earthquake generated a tsunami which inundated Hilo on the island of Hawaii with a 14-metre high surge, killing between 165 and 173 people.

July 1946: Operation Crossroads Nuclear Testing

In July 1946, during Operation Crossroads, two 20-kilotonne-of-TNT bombs were detonated at Bikini Atoll to test the feasibility of using nuclear weapons to cause tsunamis; the resulting waves were no higher than 3 to 4 m (9.8 to 13.1 ft).

1958: Landslide in Lituya Bay, Alaska

In 1958, a giant landslide in Lituya Bay, Alaska, caused the highest wave ever recorded, with a height of 524 metres (1,719 ft). Two people died.

1960: 1960 Valdivia Earthquake

In 1960, the Valdivia earthquake (Mw 9.5) generated a teletsunami that crossed entire oceans.

1962: Sieberg-Ambraseys scale

In 1962, the Sieberg-Ambraseys scale was used routinely to measure the intensity of tsunamis in the Mediterranean Sea.

1963: Vajont Dam Landslide-Tsunami

In 1963, a massive landslide from Monte Toc entered the reservoir behind the Vajont Dam in Italy, creating a wave that surged over the dam and destroyed several towns, killing around 2,000 people.

1963: Imamura-Iida intensity scale

In 1963, the Imamura-Iida intensity scale was used routinely to measure the intensity of tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean.

1964: 1964 Alaska Earthquake

In 1964, the Alaska earthquake (Mw 9.2) generated a teletsunami that crossed entire oceans.

1969: Hawaii Five-O Episode

In 1969, an episode of the TV crime show Hawaii Five-O entitled "Forty Feet High and It Kills!" used the terms "tsunami" and "tidal wave" interchangeably.

1972: Soloviev Modification

In 1972, Soloviev modified the Imamura-Iida intensity scale to measure tsunami intensity.

1977: 1977 Sumba Event

In 1977, the Sumba event occurred, with movement on normal (extensional) faults which can also cause displacement of the seabed, but only the largest of such events (typically related to flexure in the outer trench swell) cause enough displacement to give rise to a significant tsunami.

March 1979: Meteotsunami at Nagasaki

On March 31, 1979, a destructive meteotsunami occurred at Nagasaki.

July 12, 1993: Okushiri, Hokkaidō tsunami

On July 12, 1993, the Okushiri, Hokkaidō tsunami created waves 30 metres (100 ft) tall, destroying all the wood-framed structures in the area.

1998: Papua New Guinea Tsunami

In 1998, the Papua New Guinea tsunami came from an earthquake which destabilised sediments, causing them to flow into the ocean and generate a tsunami.

2001: Tappin Study

In 2001, Tappin published a study on tsunamis originating at locations away from convergent boundaries, including Storegga, Grand Banks, and Papua New Guinea.

2004: Animal Behavior During 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake

During the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, it was noted by media sources in Sri Lanka that some animal species may have sensed the tsunami, but the evidence is controversial.

2004: Tilly Smith Warns of Tsunami

In 2004, ten-year-old Tilly Smith warned her family and others on Maikhao beach in Phuket, Thailand, about an imminent tsunami after learning about them in school, saving dozens of lives.

2004: 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake

In 2004, the Indian Ocean earthquake (Mw 9.2) generated a teletsunami that crossed entire oceans.

2004: Integrated Tsunami Intensity Scale (ITIS-2012) proposed

In 2013, following the intensively studied tsunamis in 2004 and 2011, a new 12-point scale was proposed, the Integrated Tsunami Intensity Scale (ITIS-2012), intended to match as closely as possible to the modified ESI2007 and EMS earthquake intensity scales.

2004: 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami Drawback

In the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, drawback was not reported on the African coast or any other east-facing coasts that it reached. This was because the initial wave moved downwards on the eastern side of the megathrust and upwards on the western side. The western pulse hit coastal Africa and other western areas.

June 2006: Meteotsunami at Menorca

On June 15, 2006, a destructive meteotsunami occurred at Menorca, causing damage in the tens of millions of euros.

2011: 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake

In 2011, the Tōhoku earthquake (Mw 9.0) generated a teletsunami that crossed entire oceans.

2011: Integrated Tsunami Intensity Scale (ITIS-2012) proposed

2011: Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster was triggered by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, when waves exceeded the height of the plant's sea wall and flooded the emergency generators. In 2011, the tsunami toppled more than 50% of tsunami barriers walls and caused catastrophic damage.